Jerusalem - A young Israeli woman soldier was in a serious condition after being stabbed by a man believed to be Palestinian on board the light rail in a settlement suburb of east Jerusalem on Thursday, police said.

Police spokesperson Luba Samri said she "was stabbed by a man suspected of being a Palestinian in Pisgat Zeev, apparently on board the light rail. The doors of the train then opened, and the stabber fled the scene. Police are searching for the assailant".

A paramedic who treated the victim at the scene told public radio she was a soldier wearing uniform, aged 19.

She was evacuated to hospital in serious condition, he said.

Israeli army spokesperson Avital Leibovich confirmed the woman was a soldier in a posting on Twitter, saying: "A female soldier was wounded due to stabbing attack in Jerusalem."

There was no immediate indication on whether the stabbing was politically or criminally motivated.

Israel's first-ever light rail began operating in August after many delays.

The 14km route begins at Mount Herzl, passes through west Jerusalem's main artery and skirts the Old City, before heading through east Jerusalem and ending at Pisgat Zeev.

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